A Moving Moment when Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality coach who knows football intimately, which is the most important thing.

"But, as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this appointment fails to move me."

These were the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their next head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a multi-club ownership group that also controls Chelsea.

There have been only twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including those in interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he grew up and played not far from here, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever children see someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a household that fights for what's right… that's impactful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, it is an enormous moment for the club, for the capital, for every young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Exactly Does the Numbers Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural black head coach.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English manager in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present Premier League boss of colour.

The scarcity of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, 43% of top-flight players are from black heritage.

Yet, analysis by Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

At senior coaching positions, according to data provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is 2%.

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of him being announced as the Chelsea manager, and we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of ability present within black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other big five divisions in terms of national representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English coaches from an academy background are, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is truly motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see someone get that job with his background and we hope he does highly successful."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is on merit'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He started writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that race does not determine ability and said opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering African heritage manager in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple senior positions, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|